Journals from the Past



Placing oneself back in history and reliving the past through journals is an exercise my US History students do regularly.  From each chapter read, discussed, and taught, they venture back in time to a particular setting or event that particularly captured their imagination during our discussion of the unit.  Below is a journal written by junior Sarah Kuchta, who imagines herself wife to a wigmaker in the original colonies.
*****************************
DECEMBER 23, 1735

Today was my birthday.  I cannot believe that I am now 23.  Tomorrow will be my seventh anniversary.  It is incredible that I have been married to my beloved husband Richard for seven years tomorrow.  What a joy it has been!  Richard’s occupation has made our endeavors prosperous.  As a wigmaker—the best in the colonies—Richard works diligently.  Today, he measured five men’s heads in order to make wigs for them.  As well, Richard bought hair from seven different ladies.  Oh, how sad it was for those women to be rid of their hair which they most tenderly cared for.  As I write, Richard is still in his shop making wigs.  When I was in the shop last, my dear Richard was making a bagwig for a very wealthy man named Barack Franklin.  I suppose now that he has finished that wig and is now crafting a Sunday Buckle for Joe Henry.  For dinner, I am making a dish of duck and steaming succotash.  This afternoon, I enjoyed a cup of coffee and tea at the neighbor’s house while we discussed the latest news, or rather, rumors.  I hear Richard at the door now.  I must go.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Faith Under Fire: Stories of Unshaken Courage

Image
Throughout history, believers in Jesus Christ have faced trials that tested their faith to the breaking point. Some were ridiculed, others imprisoned, and many even gave their lives—all for the sake of the One they followed. Jesus himself forewarned His followers, saying, " He that findeth his life shall lose it : and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" ( Matt. 10:39) .  This timeless call has echoed through generations, inspiring countless Christians to stay true in the face of persecution. The theme of persecution is one that has shadowed believers since the early days of Christianity, shaping our faith and reminding us of what it truly means to follow Christ. Students in the 7th-12th grade Student Advancement Day Writing Class (An Introduction to Journalism) have taken on the challenge of exploring this theme through selected stories in  Foxe's Book of Martyrs . This book recounts powerful accounts of believers who paid the ultimate price for their fa...
Read more

Neologisms

Today my juniors and seniors created some new words from the roots, prefixes, and suffixes they were studying for this unit. Can you guess the meanings of the following? Once upon a moon's eclipse, there lived an 1.) abautoite man. He could see where his body was going to go and stop it when it got there. His wife was 2.) contravidurely intended not to believe him until one day they became 3.) interquetuded. They died. 1. abautoite=to stay away from oneself 2. contravidure=to see the opposite 3. interquetude=being equal among oneself The loquacious 1.) perilogite, who always seemed to be talking, was discussing a nebulous topic. He seemed to believe he had 2.) intervisitare into this intense topic of 3.) interphyrites. 1. perilogite: one who reasons around 2. intervisitare: act of seeing between 3. interphyrites: one who is around nature My most favorite author is an intergramite who writes marvelous tales about contravisures of political views. One story tells of a ...
Read more

Missions Conference: Original Poetry

Image
Missions conference.  It came and went but not without a lot of hard work by the academy students.  One of the high schoolers' projects was to create a missions poem and perform it for the class.  The following was written by a member of the class of 2013. Sacrifice and Service by Thomas Hames Missionaries give their all, Nothing they're withholding. They have heard their Master's call, He their lives is molding Into vessels fit for use For His holy mission; Able to withstand abuse For Christ's Great Commission. Flowing from their every deed Is God's sovereign power. Hum'bly they God's voice do heed He who is their Tower; They to Him do oft resort, 'Lone they would but cower. And bring unto God the sort Satan would devour. Unto you with pleading voice Jesus Christ is calling. Will His mission be your choice: To keep souls from falling? All that is requir'd of you Is complete surrender. He ...
Read more